Stanislaw KOWAL

KOWAL, Fr. Stanislaw, OMI The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Assumption Province, announce the passing of Fr. Stanislaw Kowal, OMI in Ottawa on Sunday, February 10th, 2008 after a long and difficult illness. Fr. Stan was not only a priest who served the Church with a big and generous heart, but also the Polish community of Canada. He lived out his priestly life with missionary zeal and great enthusiasm. His passing at such a young age is a great loss, not only to his Oblate community, but also to the people he served. Fr. Stan Kowal was born on February 5, 1953 in Grzeska, Poland. In 1979, Stan entered the novitiate at Swiety Krzyz and made his first vows a year later. After spending two years studying philosophy and four years studying theology, he earned a Masters Degree in Catechetics. He was ordained a deacon and then a priest (1985-1986) by Archbishop Jerzy Stroba of Poznan. After ministering for two years in Poland, Fr. Stan was sent to Canada, arriving in November, 1989. His first assignment took him to Holy Ghost Parish in Winnipeg (1991-1993). He then went to St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga (1993-1995), and later to Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonton (1995-1999). Fr. Stan returned to St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga, where he worked as pastor from 1999-2005. From 2005, he served as Pastor in Ottawa at St. Hyacinth Parish. He is survived by his brother, who is a priest working in Germany, and two sisters in Poland. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at St. Hyacinth Church in Ottawa from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. (Rosary at 7:00 p.m.) and on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. followed by Mass of the Resurrection at 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga at 11:00 a.m. Visitation and the Rosary will start at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Assumption Cemetery, Mississauga. The Oblates would like to thank Dr. Charles Czarnowski, the staff of the Ottawa General Hospital and especially the Intensive Care Unit for their generosity, sensitivity and care of Fr. Stan over the past few months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Assumption Mission Centre, 71 Indian Trail, Toronto, ON M6R 2A1. Condolences may be sent to www.mem.com . May he rest in peace! Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 2/11/2008